The Coalition supports local bicycle/pedestrian advocacy through the Community Spokes Program, and by providing technical support, print and on-line resources to interested towns in Maine. If your town or community needs help getting started or with a specific bicycle related challenge, please contact Jim Tasse at the coalition.
Community Spokes Program
The Community Spokes Program, started in 2011, attempts to create a statewide network of bicycle and pedestrian advocates at the local level. By assisting local residents in their efforts to make their community more bike-friendly, we hope to multiply the power of the bike advocacy movement in Maine.
All Community Spokes attend an initial one-day training with 5 to 10 other advocates. The training provides an overview of the bicycle advocacy process and how to start a bicycle/pedestrian committee, a review of issues on which the advocates might want to focus and the identification and selection of a specific campaign.
The training is followed by monthly “Mutual Aid” conference calls with other Spokes on specific topics.
Examples of Mutual Aid topics:
- “Everything you need to know about the MDOT”
- “The Safe Routes to School Program”
- “How you can leverage the health problems in Maine to get support for bicycling/walking in your community”
These calls serve to increase the technical and community organizing skills of our Spokes, while developing a cohesive and well informed network.
- One page description of the Community Spokes Program
- Community Spokes Tool Kit
- List of Community Spokes
Email Jim Tasse if you’d like to become a Community Spoke for your town.
Community Spokes Profiles
Karen Boutot - Fort Kent
An avid cyclist and co-director of Ride Aroostook 2011 and 2012, Karen is a community outreach worker with the Power of Prevention Healthy Maine Partnership. This work promoting healthy community nutrition and physical activity (including walking/biking/trail development) for disease prevention is complementary to her work as a Community Spoke.
Robert McChesney - Bath
Robert McChesney is chair of the City of Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. He is an emeritus professor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from New York University. His main goals for cycling are to increase paved shoulders in the lower Kennebec region and to encourage more adult cycling.
Pete Phair - Wayne
Pete is a former BCM staffer and bike advocate who currently volunteers for a number of annual bike events and writes a column for both the Maine Cyclist and Single Tracks magazines. He is part of the CeMeNEMBA management team and has coordinated SAG drivers for the Trek Across Maine since 2006. He is a League Cycling Instructor (#2897), a BPSE Instructor and a member of the Community Spokes program.
Stephen Rees - Cherryfield
An avid outdoor recreation enthusiast, Steve moved in 2008 to Cherryfield in Washington County after retiring from a land use legal practice in Sarasota, Fl.He soon joined the Sunrise Trail Coalition which promotes outdoor recreation on the DownEast Sunrise Trail and is the current President. He enjoys biking, hiking and cross country skiing on the Trail and kayaking rivers and lakes.
Craig Saddlemire – Lewiston
Craig is the head mechanic at Spoke Folks and a City Councilor in Lewiston, serving on the Lewiston-Auburn Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. In addition, Craig is a professional videomaker and is earning an MFA at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Joel Savilonis - Auburn
Joel is a Community Spoke from Auburn. He is a member of the newly formed LA, Lewiston-Auburn Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. He has been a recreational cyclist since the early 70’s, with a passion for keeping old bicycles running like new. He still rides a 40 year old Motobecane Grand Touring and is a former bike shop owner.
He helped found the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, was a board member of the Granite State Wheelmen cycling club and served on the board of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Joel is a Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Educator and League Cycling Instructor.
Scott Workman - Waterville
Scott Workman is an Urban Planner, focusing his professional and personal efforts on the nexus between transportation, economic development, and urban design. He is a recent graduate from the Muskie School of Public Service, earning a Masters in Community Planning and Development from USM that was built on a career in information technology systems management. As a cycling advocate, Scott is one of the founding members of the Greater Waterville Bike and Pedestrian Action Committee, and a member of the BCM. Scott has participated in grant writing efforts, recently submitting a grant to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, geared towards rectifying bicycle and pedestrian safety issues in the Greater Waterville area. Above all, Scott brings a long record of transportation cycling experience and enthusiasm as a BCM Community Spoke bridging his passion for sustainable transportation and its importance to building strong economies, resulting in strong communities.
